Page 76 of The Dragon Queen

Chapter

Twenty-Three

EMBER

Ourforcesareallsettomeetatmiddayinthecourtyard.Mystomachisaroilingknotofnerves,butwithmymatessurroundingme,Ifeelgrounded,balanced--fulloffireandlightasair.

Thefiveofusstridethroughthehallsofthecastle,armedwiththesuppliestoattemptarisky,borderlinesuicidalattemptatinfiltratingtheShadowKingdom.Flashlights,ropes,knives,tools,rations.Assortedmagicalartifacts.

Andanabsolutelygrimdetermination.

Andwe'renottheonlyones.

Theentireplaceisabuzz.Noteveryoneisgoingtojointhebattle,buteveryonewhoisn'thasalovedonewhois.Theweightofresponsibilityiscrushing,butthepeopleofUnity--peoplefromalloverthedragonworld--havechosentoputtheirfaithinme,andIamdeterminedtobeworthyofit.Iholdmyheadhigh,keepingmyshouldersbackandmyspinestraight.EveryonewhoapproachesIgreetwithasmileofassurance.

Untilwe'realmostthere,andraisedvoicescatchmyattentionfromanalcovenearby.

Ipause,mybrowsdrawingtogether.

"Idon'tunderstandwhyyouwon'tcomewithme."

Mybreathcatches.That'sAmy.IexchangeaglancewithJianyu,whourgesmeon.

IpeeraroundthecornertofindAmyandGracefacingoff.Amy'sradiatingtension,whileGraceisapictureofself-defensiveness,herarmscrossedoverherchestandherjawclenched.

"YouknowIcan't,"Graceinsists,whisper-yellingeventhoughAmy'sclearlygivenupontryingtokeephervoicedown. "IneedtosupportHighPriestessFangandtheotherSisters."

"ButIneedyou."Amy'svoicecracks,andapieceofmyheartdoes,too.ShereachesoutforGrace.

ButGracetakesastepback. "Amethyst..."

"Don't'Amethyst'me."

Amy'sbackisturnedtome,butthewayshespeaksiswobblyandrough.Hertearsarejustfuelingheranger,though,everythingatatippingpoint,andIgetit.Ifthere'severatimetohaveabreakdowninfrontofyoursignificantother,it'sonthecuspofagiant,terrifyingbattle.

"Eversincewegothere,you'vebeenpullingawayfromme.Whathappened?BackinUnity,youtoldmeyoulovedme,butit'slikeyoucan'tevenlookatmeanymore,andIdon'tunderstand.AmInotgoodenough--"

"Amethyst,"Gracesaysagain,butthistimeit'ssoft,andhereyesaregleaming.Gracetwitches,butshetakesAmybythehand,andIexhalehard. "Youhavetounderstand.IwasraisedtoservethePriestesses."

"Whatdoesthathavetodowith--"

"IwasraisedtoservethePriestesses,becausetheyareGods.You,Amy."Gracehiccups. "You'rethebrighteststarinthesky.PriestessesandSistersnevermixed.Wesaiditwastokeepourbloodlinepure,toaugmentourmagic,butthemagicofthedragonsisofawholedifferentworld,oneIdon'tunderstand.Icouldn't--I--"Herjawworks,andhereyesgleam. "I'mtheonewho'snotgoodenough."

"What?"Amyswabsatherface.

Shrugging,Gracewipeshereyes,too. "I'msorry,beloved,I'vetriedsohardtoovercomethisfeeling,totalkmyselfoutofmyreluctance.Butattheendoftheday,Idon'tknowhowtotouchagod.HowtoaskagodtolovemethewaythatIloveher--"

"I'mnotagod,Grace.Forfuck'ssake."Amy'sincredulous,butshe'slaughing,too. "Youtouchmelikethis."ShegraspsGrace'shandandpullsherin,hugginghertightly.

Gracehesitates,butafteramoment,shemeltsintoAmy'sarms.

Amygraspsherbytheshoulders,pullingawayandshakingher. "Youletmeloveyoulikethis."

Shekissesherthen,fullonthemouth,andit'ssointimateandprivateIhavetobackaway.

Really,jeez,Iprobablyshouldhavewalkedawayalongtimeago.

Jianyucatchesmeupinhisarms,though,holdingmetightly. "I'mgladtheyworkeditout."

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